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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

The old (or is it still current?) definition of LTNP was at least seven years with normal counts; a common definition of common-law marriage is a union with cohabitation of seven years and a day. So I guess, if this holding pattern continues, I can call myself an LTNP in late-summer 2012. At any rate, on August 24, 2012, HIV and I can be considered a wedded couple, despite the absence of ceremonies secular or religious.

Jay

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Well, I gave all my numbers to Holdniy at TheBody (as I always do), and this is what I asked and this is what he said:

"My only question this time round is: the CD4% in these tests seems to move within a range of seven %age points (35 to 42) -- is that "normal" variability?

"Thanks!"

* * *

"That's quite a swing in CD4% and would be outside normal variability. But looking at your previous numbers, the May CD4% is well above all your others, as were your CD4 count and CD8 counts. I suspect your total white blood cell count and total lymphocyte count were also elevated to account for these increases."

Not concerned, but curious. Any thoughts?

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Well, things still seem to be in a holding pattern. Touching all the wood around me (including my skull and, erm... )

Jay

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Well, things still seem to be in a holding pattern. Touching all the wood around me (including my skull and, erm... )

Jay

Very impressive numbers. You might want to consider joining the HIV elite controller study. You met all the qualifications for viremic controllers in the past (<2000 VL) and now that you are undetectable without meds, you may even be an elite controller.

Are you doing anything special to get these numbers ? Diet and exercise wise ?

Thanks Paul! As for pics... aren't certain things better left to the imagination?

Madbrain: I am in Bruce Walker's elite/viremic controller study (and I live in Boston now, making follow-up visits etc no problem at all). Also in the NIH/NIAID LTNP study.

But I'm not, strictly speaking, LTNP. There seem to be several competing definitions. Here's an abstract/poster from CROI 2009 that uses four definitions (and the timeframes involved are a minimum of eight or ten years):

As for diet and exercise: they've been pretty awful over the last few months! And enormous stress (work-related) and some heartbreak (romance-related). Crazy-bad insomnia. Trying to eat/live healthier now; gawd, let's hope the numbers don't start to plummet...

Jay

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Madbrain: I am in Bruce Walker's elite/viremic controller study (and I live in Boston now, making follow-up visits etc no problem at all). Also in the NIH/NIAID LTNP study.

Great ! I'm only in the HIV controller study so far, as a viremic controller. I am in contact with Dr Emily Cutrell, but I think this might be the same study.

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But I'm not, strictly speaking, LTNP. There seem to be several competing definitions. Here's an abstract/poster from CROI 2009 that uses four definitions (and the timeframes involved are a minimum of eight or ten years):

Yeah, I'm not LTNP either - only 27 months poz here, but the fact that we don't drop CD4s or have increasing VL is significant enough. Let's hope that continues !

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As for diet and exercise: they've been pretty awful over the last few months! And enormous stress (work-related) and some heartbreak (romance-related). Crazy-bad insomnia. Trying to eat/live healthier now; gawd, let's hope the numbers don't start to plummet...Jay

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

So I allow me to dream that I could have become an XY controller with CD4 in the 700-850 range and a VL between 450-550 last year (despite it was higher in average the first year - average 2k with one peak at 17k).

Anyway, no regrets to have started HAART at CD4=550 (recovering from long trip + cold + gastro) and CD4%=18% and VL = 450 cause in reality I might just have been a slow progressor (but my counts were raising including the CD4%).

Eish, stop talk, I am not that lucky that you guy, and IMHO, it sucks But again, VERY happy that some can control and keep in respects the bugs

Thanks Julien, Paul (perhaps we can meet in July?), Ann. Matt -- this is the one area of my life where I'm perfectly content to be boringly normal. But, yes, I do need to have more sex, le sigh. My golden age (ha!) of promiscuity is over: all of it feels like work now, not fun. Nevertheless: are you suggesting that more sex will/can lead to immunological decline? Explain, please.

Jay

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Forgot to add: the last three tests were done using bDNA rather than RT-PCR technology. Any comments on assay variability, or adjustments (akin to Celsius and Fahrenheit conversions) I should take in account? Thanks for any thoughts, answers.

Jay

Logged

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

These posts got me to thinking. I'm wondering what you guys have learned about elite controllers? Since most people don't find out they are HIV+ until their immune systems are very bad, do we know how many people were probably considered elite controllers but didn't know it? I was infected in Aug 2001. 9 years later my CD4 is 811 and vl 27,000. Isn't it very possible many of us were probably elite controllers for many years, but just didn't know because we didn't even know we were poz?

Just curious if anyone has ever talked about that. I guess I'm wondering if researchers have factored in how most people don't know they are poz until some OI pops up? It seems everyone I've run into who is an elite controller tested soon after infection and has only been poz for up to 4 years. I haven't run into anyone who is still an elite controller 9 years later. Having said that, I know my "research" is limited to the people I meet on sites like these and talk to at the doc's office. Do you guys know elite controllers poz for more than 8 or 9 years?

There are several 'elite controllers' here at the forums, also some 'viremic controllers'. I'm one of the former. I tested poz in 1985 though likely became infected in 1981. I've been blessed with a normal immune system. Like some others of us here at the Forums, I'm in several Controller studies including one in Boston by Bruce Walker and his group. Here's a link to that

So that's my annual report, so to speak. Hulloos, hugs, and health to all.

Jay

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

So... That's the annual report. Still in a holding pattern, nearly seven years later. Not on any ARVs. (Interesting changes, couple of days ago, to the DHHS recommendations for treatment, eh?) Hulloos, hugs, and health to all.

Jay

Jay

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.